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Farm Safety Consultants

A safety consultant offers an outside, trained set of eyes. Knowing what to ask helps you find the right kind of help and avoid paying for something you do not need.

What does a farm safety consultant do?

A consultant visits or reviews your operation, identifies hazards, suggests improvements and may help with training, written plans or recordkeeping. Some specialize in agriculture, and others come from general workplace safety.

They can be especially useful when you have employees, a growing operation, new equipment or a close call that left questions about what to change.

Consultants differ widely, so describe your needs carefully. A person who knows dairy may not be the right fit for a vegetable operation, or the reverse.

• Walk-through of buildings and equipment
• Conversations with workers and family
• Written findings and suggested priorities

When is it worth bringing one in?

Consider outside help if you hire workers, if the farm is changing quickly, if insurers or buyers have asked for safety documentation, or if you simply feel stuck. A fresh view often reveals hazards you have stopped noticing.

If your needs are modest, free or low-cost resources may be enough. Extension educators and agricultural health organizations offer guidance, and some have staff who visit farms.

Think too about timing. A review before a busy season gives you time to act, while one in the middle of harvest may simply sit in a drawer.

Are there free or low-cost options?

OSHA describes an on-site consultation service for some small businesses, separate from enforcement. Availability and eligibility differ by state and employer, so check OSHA's website and your state program to see whether your farm qualifies.

Extension offices, farm bureaus and insurers may also have safety staff or programs. Ask what they offer and whether it is free. Compare what each offers before choosing.

• OSHA on-site consultation programs, where available
• State and university extension programs
• Insurer loss-control services
• Farm organization safety programs

How do you check a consultant's qualifications?

Ask about their training, their experience with farms like yours and any professional credentials. Ask for references and a sample of the kind of report they provide. Be wary of anyone who promises that you will never be inspected or cited.

Confirm any credential with the organization that issues it. Which credentials apply varies by state, so ask your extension office or insurer what is recognized.

Ask whether the consultant carries insurance of their own and whether they will sign a confidentiality agreement if you want one.

What should you ask before hiring?

Clarify the scope, the cost, the timing and what you will receive. Will they walk the farm, talk with workers, review equipment and give a written report? Will they help with follow-up?

Ask how they protect your information, and how they treat workers during the visit. Good consultants speak respectfully to everyone and focus on fixing problems, not blaming.

Agree in writing on what will happen if the scope changes, so there are no surprises.

• What exactly will you review and deliver?
• What does it cost and how is it billed?
• Have you worked with farms like mine?
• Can I talk to a past client?

How do you use the advice well?

A report helps only if you act on it. Sort recommendations into what to fix now, what needs budget and what can wait, and assign each to a person with a date.

Share the results with family and workers. Involve them in choosing solutions, and follow up to check that changes are in place.

Revisit the plan after a few months and ask whether the recommended changes are working in daily practice.

• Sort recommendations by urgency
• Assign each item to one person with a date
• Share the report with family and workers
• Track each fix until it is done

What if the consultant's advice conflicts with other sources?

If something sounds off, check it with the equipment manufacturer, OSHA or your extension office. A good consultant welcomes questions and can show where advice comes from.

Remember that a consultant advises, and the responsibility for legal compliance stays with the employer. Confirm requirements with OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor.

If a recommendation seems costly, ask whether a lower-cost option can reach the same goal, and ask the consultant to explain the tradeoffs plainly.

• Ask where each recommendation comes from
• Check legal questions with OSHA or the Department of Labor

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.